Brexit and English Football: The Reality Behind the Rules
Under a thorough post-Brexit shake up approved by the Home Office on 1 December 2020, the FA, Premier League and English Football League (EFL) have agreed to transform English football clubs’ dealings with players from the European Union (EU).
Groundbreaking transfers such as N’Golo Kanté’s to Leicester in the summer of 2015 and Cesc Fabregas’ 2003 move to Arsenal as a 16-year-old would have been blocked under new legislation.
What are the rules?
From 1 January 2021, English clubs will be prohibited from signing under-18 EU nationals, limited to signing six EU nationals aged between 18 and 21 in one season, and will see work permits and a points-based system applied to signings from the EU.
Players will need 15 points for a work permit, with the points-based system determined by numerous factors. Senior and youth international appearances, the quality of the selling club based on the league they are in, league position and progression in continental competition, club appearances and domestic league and continental cup minutes will all be considered.
Players must be of the “highest quality” to be permitted a permit, and all players who accrue 10 to 14 points will have their case automatically sent for appeal.
There are new rules for overseas managers too. They must have worked for three out of the previous five years in what is described as a “top league”, that covers 33 of the world’s main leagues.
Why has this legislation been introduced?
The legislation demonstrates English football’s desire to follow the recruitment approach applied by other sectors of UK industry in a post-Brexit Britain. The focus is on attracting “skilled workers” from abroad and prioritising young English talent.
Richard Masters, Chief Executive of the Premier League, said: “Continuing to be able to recruit the best players will see the Premier League remain competitive and compelling and the solution will complement our player development philosophy of the best foreign talent alongside the best homegrown players.”
How will this affect English football?
The points-based system will not stop high profile foreign players coming to the league but will affect younger and less experienced players.
Clubs lower down the English football pyramid may also be hindered in their efforts to sign lesser-known players. For example, Kanté would have been deemed to have insufficient points to be granted a work permit in August 2015 when he move from Caen to Leicester City for £8.10million.
This suggests a potential flaw in the rules as players yet to reach their full potential may not be able to grow and then flourish in the Premier League.
What will the impact on English academies be?
The area of football most likely to be affected is the academy system. Premier League clubs previously took advantage of favourable rules that allowed them to purchase the most exciting European prospects from the age of 16 for pocket change, which infuriated European clubs.
While Fabregas excelled and quickly established himself at first team level, there are countless other young Europeans who signed to Premier League clubs and failed to make an impression at first team level before being sold for a profit.
Clubs like Manchester City have made worthwhile profits on selling players who they signed before their 18th birthday. Brahim Diaz was sold for a £15 million profit to Real Madrid and Jason Denayer for an £8.75 million profit to Lyon.
Through purchasing so many young Europeans, Premier League clubs have ultimately stockpiled talent over the years, trading and dealing with these individuals as merchandise rather than as people.
Consequently, the Premier League has the highest market share of all the top European nations’ players playing outside their home league but have little to show for it on the pitch.
Of the 62 French, Dutch and Spanish players to play in the Premier League this season, only six have come through a Premier League’s academy.
Included in those six is Paul Pogba, who joined Manchester United aged 16 but moved to Juventus three years later as he felt he was being denied the opportunity to reach his full potential. Moving to Turin was the catalyst that enabled him to become a world-class player and then subsequently return to Old Trafford, for a then world record fee.
Given the low numbers of foreign youngsters who go through Premier League academies to then play in the Premier League, the banning of signing under-18s should inspire increased investment and focus on homegrown players throughout the football pyramid.
However, not all sides will see it that way. In light of this legislation, Birmingham City announced the mass scaling back of their academy pathway, deeming it too expensive an operation to run.
Instead, they have opted to follow the path of Brentford and Huddersfield, by implementing a “B and C team” model. The decision drew immediate criticism from Jude Bellingham, a recent starlet of the academy who was sold to Borussia Dortmund for a world-record fee for a 17-year old.
How will clubs work around this legislation?
English clubs will still look for ways to work around the rules to ensure they have access to the best talent on the continent. The rulings open up the opportunity of more clubs offering jobs to the parents of elite academy players so they can move to England and become a resident before signing the player.
There is also the prospect of Premier League sides becoming sister clubs with European clubs and using them as a place to acquire and then develop youngsters.
For many clubs this is already the case. Manchester City’s owners have a stake in Spanish Second Division team Girona and eight other football clubs under their City Football Group.
While this legislation transforms how English clubs do business with Europe, the reality for many teams is that the difference will be fairly negligible. Only in 10 to 15 years will we be able to fully assess the impact.
